Tucson police officers who came under gunfire earlier this week quickly switched into lifesaving mode when rendering first aid to the critically wounded gunman who fired at them, officials said Thursday.
Police Chief Chris Magnus praised the officers’ professionalism during the violent incident in which one officer was grazed in the head by a bullet.
“A key concern officers are asked to consider (when using deadly force) is to respect and appreciate the sanctity of life, including that of the suspect,” Magnus said during a news conference at police headquarters. “Our officers immediately provided the suspect, who had just tried to kill them, with life-saving care from their (first-aid kits). I’d call that the epitome of professionalism.”
The Tucson Police Department released dashcam video footage and radio recordings of the Monday night south-side shooting.
In the video, Officer Robert Miranda can be seen lying in the street moments after being wounded, firing at the suspect, later identified as Marcus De la Torre, as he runs from the scene. Seconds later, gunshots could be heard as De la Torre exchanged fire with other officers outside of the camera’s view. He was shot multiple times and underwent surgery at Banner-University Medical Center, where he remains in stable condition. (See video at tucson.com)
Miranda and fellow Officer Robert Orduno were working a special assignment with gangs and narcotics enforcement in the area of East 34th Street and South Park Avenue when they saw a man on a motorized bicycle commit a traffic violation, Magnus said.
They pursued the man, who refused to stop but eventually jumped off the bike and ran. Miranda got out of the vehicle and chased him across a lot, while Orduno returned to the car, catching up to the pair shortly after Miranda was shot.
“Officer Miranda came under fire, and even injured, never gave up,” Magnus said, also praising Orduno’s quick thinking in distracting De la Torre’s attention away from Miranda while he was laying in the street.
De la Torre, 33, was most recently incarcerated for aggravated assault on two Tucson police officers, for which he received a 1½-year prison sentence, said Assistant Chief John Leavitt.
Police said that he also has previous drug convictions, and at the time of the shooting, he was found to be in possession of narcotics. Leavitt declined to go into further detail.
By working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Tucson police were able to trace the gun in De la Torre’s possession back to the store where it was purchased by someone else, Leavitt said.
Using an ATF database, detectives from TPD’s gun crimes unit learned the Glock 9mm exchanged hands several times after its purchase before ending up with De la Torre, who as a convicted felon is prohibited from possessing a firearm, Leavitt said.
Without going into details, Leavitt said police can likely build criminal cases against several of the people who had the gun before De la Torre.
Miranda, who was treated and released from the hospital Monday night, is on administrative status, and is expected to return to full duty after he finishes follow-up treatments for his wound, said Assistant Chief Ramon Bautista.
De la Torre is still in stable condition at Banner-UMC, and is facing charges of attempted first-degree murder and being a prohibited possessor.
